Rotating mechanism for a storage cabinet and the cabinet

ABSTRACT

There is provided a storage cabinet that includes a rotating mechanism configured to rotate the storage units within the storage cabinet. The rotating mechanism comprises a first set of rotational gears having a first direction of rotation and a first central axis perpendicular to the first direction of rotation, a second set of rotational gears having a second direction of rotation and a second central axis perpendicular to the second direction of rotation. The mechanism further comprises a chain adapted to be operatively connected to the first and second set of rotational gears, and a rail adapted to be mounted on the internal walls of the storage cabinet, wherein the cabinet rail and the chain are configured to receive the at least one storage unit so as to rotate said at least one storage unit clockwise or counterclockwise movement within the storage cabinet along the first and second rotation directions.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to wear closets, and more particularly thepresent invention relates to a wear closet with a rotating mechanism forrotating closet compartments and to a rotating mechanism for saidcloset, particularly useful for disabled people and young children.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Usually closets are constructed so that in an upper region of storage,cabinets or shelves are provided wherein clothes can be storedhorizontally while in a lower region, an elongated rod is usuallyarranged for hanging clothes vertically.

However, retrieving clothes or garments from shelves is particularlydifficult for those individuals with reduced mobility option such asyoung children; elderly or handicapped people using wheelchair. It issometimes very difficult to take out the clothes from the uppercompartments of a wardrobe and drop them.

In traditional closets, cloth compartments located at the upper side ofthe closets are static and cannot be moved downwardly to accommodatepeople of all height as well as people with reduced mobility such aschildren and handicapped people. Also, fix compartments have limited thepossibility of building high closets with an increased number ofcompartments within the upper space taking advantage of the availablevertical space to accommodate more clothes and utilities within thecompartments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore there is a need for improving the designs of storage cabinetsso that they are easily accessed by people, notably people withdisabilities such as wheelchair; and people with reduced mobilityoption, such as elderly or young children.

The present invention provides a simplified and efficient closet with arotating mechanism for rotating closet compartments.

As a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a rotatingmechanism configured to rotate at least one storage unit of a storagecabinet extending vertically along a vertical axis and horizontallyalong a horizontal axis, the rotating mechanism comprising;

-   -   a first set of rotational gears having a first direction of        rotation and a first central axis perpendicular to the first        direction of rotation, the first set of rotational gears being        adapted to be mounted within the storage cabinet such that the        first direction of rotation of the first set of rotational gears        is parallel to the vertical axis of the storage cabinet;    -   a second set of rotational gears having a second direction of        rotation and a second central axis perpendicular to the second        direction of rotation, the second set of rotational gears being        adapted to be mounted within the storage cabinet such that the        second direction of rotation of the second set of rotational        gears is parallel to the horizontal axis of the storage cabinet;    -   a chain adapted to be operatively connected to the first and        second set of rotational gears, the chain being adapted to be        engaged by the first and second set of rotational gears and        being further adapted to slide along the first and second        rotation directions by the effect of said engagement in a        circular or semi-circular manner; and    -   a rail adapted to be mounted on the internal walls of the        storage cabinet;        wherein the cabinet rail and the chain are configured to receive        the at least one storage unit so as to rotate said at least one        storage unit clockwise or counterclockwise movement within the        storage cabinet along the first and second rotation directions.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the storage unit isconfigured to be mounted at and slide along the chain at least at oneextremity forming the wall. Preferably the storage unit comprises drawerrails located along slide along the chain at least at one extremityforming the wall, which help the storage unit to be engaged to a chainthrough said drawer rails.

In another preferred embodiment, the storage unit includes inwarddepressions throughout the external walls (in case of arectangular/square compartment, the inward depressions will be on allfour outward faces), while the chain includes outward protrusions, suchthat the storage unit is engaged in between the rail and the chain withthe help of outward protrusions of the chain and the inward depressionsof the storage unit.

Preferably, the storage unit is made up of steel, aluminum, wood or anyother kind of suitable lightweight material. More preferably, thestorage unit is made of wood.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rotatingmechanism is actuated manually using a crank attached to a rotatingshaft. The crank may be a bent portion of the shaft, or a separate armor disk attached to it. The end of the rod attached to the crank movesin a circular motion so that enable the compartments to move eitherupwardly or downwardly according to the direction of the rotatingmovement of the crank.

In a still preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rotatingmechanism is actuated automatically. The automatic actuation can beconducted using at least one rotary actuator adapted to force thestorage units along both the first and second rotational directions. Theautomatic actuation can also be conducted using at least two linearactuators, a first linear actuator adapted force the storage units alongthe first rotational direction and a second linear actuator adapted toforce the storage units along the second rotational direction.

In an embodiment of the invention, the automatic actuator of therotating mechanism can be carried out using a user interface and amicroprocessor microcontroller adapted to be connected to the actuatorswhich are connected to the rotating mechanism. The user interface isadapted to receive instructions from the user for the specificcompartment for which access is desired. The microprocessor is adaptedto receive and process the user instructions for triggering theactuators in order to move the desired compartment at the lower level ofthe cabinet. The microprocessor is connected to a memory for memorizingthe exact location of each compartment.

In an embodiment of the invention, there is provided flexible supportingmembers adapted to be mounted along the internal walls of the storagecabinet for supporting the storage units while moving verticallyupwardly and downwardly along the vertical axis of the cabinet. Theflexible supporting members are adapted to have a sufficient strength tohold the storage unit for preventing it from falling against thedirection of rotation while in movement, and further adapted to have aflexible property to flex when being forced by the storage unit to letthe latter pass to the next step. The flexible supporting member isflexed in only one direction to secure the good function of the movementof the storage unit while rotating. A flexible supporting member ispreferably mounted at regular rotation steps (intervals) along thevertical axis of the cabinet. The intervals preferably correspond to theintervals between the different protrusions of the chain such that eachsupporting member corresponds in position to one protrusion. The storageunits are therefore enabled to move forwardly and downwardly along thevertical axis by the combination of both the flexible supporting membersand the chain operation.

Preferably, the rotation is controlled through linear motors.

In another embodiment, the present invention also related to a storagecabinet comprising:

-   -   at least one storage unit of a storage cabinet extending        vertically along a vertical axis and horizontally along a        horizontal axis,    -   a first set of rotational gears having a first direction of        rotation and a first central axis perpendicular to the first        direction of rotation, the first set of rotational gears being        adapted to be mounted within the storage cabinet such that the        first direction of rotation of the first set of rotational gears        is parallel to the vertical axis of the storage cabinet;    -   a second set of rotational gears having a second direction of        rotation and a second central axis perpendicular to the second        direction of rotation, the second set of rotational gears being        adapted to be mounted within the storage cabinet such that the        second direction of rotation of the second set of rotational        gears is parallel to the horizontal axis of the storage cabinet;    -   a chain adapted to be operatively connected to the first and        second set of rotational gears, the chain being adapted to be        engaged by the first and second set of rotational gears and        being further adapted to slide along the first and second        rotation directions by the effect of said engagement in a        circular or semi-circular manner; and    -   a rail adapted to be mounted on the internal walls of the        storage cabinet;        wherein the cabinet rail and the chain are configured to receive        the at least one storage unit so as to rotate said at least one        storage unit clockwise or counterclockwise movement within the        storage cabinet along the first and second rotation directions.

Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniquesof the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the inventionare described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimedinvention. For a better understanding of the invention with advantagesand features, refer to the description and to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter that is regarded as the invention is particularlypointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion ofthe specification. The foregoing and other aspects, features, andadvantages of the invention are apparent from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1a is a line diagram representing the various parts of the storagecabinet according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1b is a line diagram representing the various parts of the storagecabinet according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a line diagram displaying configuration of the storage unitwithin the inward depressions.

FIG. 3 is a line diagram displaying configuration of the storage unitwithin the drawer rails.

It is to be noted that the drawings presented are intended solely forthe purpose of illustration and that they are, therefore, neitherdesired nor intended to limit the disclosure to any or all of the exactdetails of construction shown, except insofar as they may be deemedessential to the claimed invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, there is provided a storage cabinet 100 whichincludes multiple storage units. For the purpose of ease, only onestorage unit 102 a is shown in the diagram and its position on the rightside (dashed line diagram of storage unit 102 b) however, it will beappreciated by a person ordinarily skilled in the art that there can bemultiple storage units located in the storage cabinet or closet. Thestorage units are adapted to be mounted at and slide along a chain ateach extremity of the storage units. As illustrated in FIG. 3, thestorage unit 102 a includes drawer rails system 302 located at eachextremity of the storage unit which help the storage unit 102 a to beengaged to a chain 106 through said drawer rails 302. When the storageunit 102 a is located in the left side of the closet, said storage unitis engaged to a chain 106 through a drawer rail located externally inthe right side X of the storage unit 102 a. When said storage unit 102 amoves upwardly and reaches the top part of the closed, it is engaged tothe chain 106 through a drawer rail located externally in the end part Tof the storage unit 102 a. Similarly, when the storage unit 102 b islocated in the right side of the closet, said storage unit is engaged toa chain 106 through a drawer rail located externally in the left side Zof the storage unit. When said storage unit 102 b moves downwardly andreaches the end part of the closed, it is engaged to the chain 106through a drawer rail located in the top part Y of the storage unit 102b.

In another embodiment of the invention, for operative rotation thestorage unit 102 a includes inward depressions 202 on all four outwardfaces X, Y, Z and T, whereas the chain 106 includes the outwardprotrusions 114 (FIG. 2). The storage unit 102 a is engaged in betweenthe rail 112 and the chain 106 with the help of outward protrusions 114and the inward depressions 202 so as to move the storage unit 102 avertically upward or downward by engaging the inward depressions 202 ofthe storage unit 102 a with the outward protrusions of the chain 106.When said storage unit 102 a moves upwardly and reaches the top part ofthe closed, it is engaged to the chain 106 through the inwarddepressions 202 located externally in the end part T of the storage unit102 a. Similarly, when the storage unit 102 b is located in the rightside of the closet, said storage unit is engaged to a chain 106 throughthe inward depressions 202 located externally in the left side Z of thestorage unit. When said storage unit 102 b moves downwardly and reachesthe end part of the closed, it is engaged to the chain 106 through theinward depressions 202 located in the top part Y of the storage unit 102b. In another embodiment of the invention the rotating mechanism asdescribed above may also be adapted to rotate the storage unit in ahorizontal manner as well.

The chain 106 is configured to be engaged to two vertically alignedrotational gears 104 a and 104 b. As shown in the FIG. 1, the rotationalgear 104 a is connected to a set of other rotational gears 108 a, 108 bthrough a connecting chain 116. Whereas, the other extreme rotationalgear 104 b is connected to a set of other rotational gears 108 c, 108 dthrough another connecting chain 118. In an embodiment of the inventionthere is provided a rail 112 fitted between the two set of other pulleysviz. 108 a, 108 b and 108 c, 108 d. The rotational gears 108 a, 108 band 108 c, 108 d and the rail 112 along with the rotational gears 104 a,104 b form the rotational mechanism to rotate the storage unit 102. Foroperative rotation of the storage unit 102, the rail 112 includesoutward protrusions 110 so that the storage unit is mounted to the rail112 between two outward protrusions 110 a and 110 b from one side and tothe chain 106 that slide along the drawer rail located outside in theextremity of the storage unit 102 so as to move the storage unit 102vertically upward or downward. The storage unit 102 that includes thedrawer rails 202 is engaged to the chain 106. In another embodiment ofthe invention the rotating mechanism as described above may also beadapted to rotate the storage unit in a horizontal manner as well. Inthis regard, the storage unit is mounted to the rail 112 from the topside between two outward protrusions 110 c and 110 d and to the chain106 that slide along the drawer rail located outside around the storageunit 102 so as to move the storage unit 102 horizontally either fromleft to right or form right to left.

In another embodiment the invention as described above may be manuallyoperated or with the help of linear motors so as to automaticallypresent operator or person using the storage cabinet 100, with emptystorage unit. For sensing the empty storage unit 102, there could beplaced a sensor to presence the availability of things within thestorage unit 102.

In an embodiment of the invention the user of the storage cabinet 100whenever wants to access the storage unit 102 might engage the storageunit 102 manually or through an automatic means so as to move thestorage unit 102 to be accessed. The user pulls down the storage unit102 which rotates through the rotational gears 104 a and 104 b with thehelp of the chain 106. The rotation could be initiated through a linearmotor (not shown in the figure) connected to an axel operatively engagedwith any of the rotational gears 104 a or 104 b (not shown in thefigure). The rotation hence initiated provides an access to the storageunit 102 being accessed by the user. Hence, in a scenario when thestorage unit 102 is being moved upward, the storage unit, when reachesthe top rotational gear 104 a, is then moved from left side of thestorage cabinet 100 to the right side as displayed by FIG. 1 (dashedline diagram of storage unit 102 b). Hence on rotation, once the storageunit reaches any of the extreme rotational gears i.e. 104 a or 104 b,the alignment of the storage unit 102 is changed. It will be however,appreciated by a personal ordinarily skilled in the art that therotating mechanism can also be operated in a horizontal manner as welland the rotation can be either in a clockwise manner or in a counterclockwise manner too.

The foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative embodimentsof the present invention. Having thus described exemplary embodiments,it should be noted by those ordinarily skilled in the art that thewithin disclosures are exemplary only, and that various otheralternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within thescope of the present invention. Merely listing or numbering the steps ofa method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on theorder of the steps of that method. Many modifications and otherembodiments of the invention will come to mind to one ordinarily skilledin the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of theteachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associateddrawings. Although specific terms may be employed herein, they are usedin a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes oflimitation. Moreover, the present invention has been described indetail; it should be understood that various changes, substitutions andalterations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Accordingly,the present invention is not limited to the specific embodimentsillustrated herein, but is limited only by the following claims

We claim:
 1. A rotating mechanism configured to rotate at least onestorage unit of a storage cabinet extending vertically along a verticalaxis and horizontally along a horizontal axis, the rotating mechanismcomprising; a first set of rotational gears having a first direction ofrotation and a first central axis perpendicular to the first directionof rotation, the first set of rotational gears being adapted to bemounted within the storage cabinet such that the first direction ofrotation of the first set of rotational gears is parallel to thevertical axis of the storage cabinet; a second set of rotational gearshaving a second direction of rotation and a second central axisperpendicular to the second direction of rotation, the second set ofrotational gears being adapted to be mounted within the storage cabinetsuch that the second direction of rotation of the second set ofrotational gears is parallel to the horizontal axis of the storagecabinet; a chain adapted to be operatively connected to the first andsecond set of rotational gears, the chain being adapted to be engaged bythe first and second set of rotational gears and being further adaptedto slide along the first and second rotation directions by the effect ofsaid engagement in a circular or semi-circular manner; and a railadapted to be mounted on the internal walls of the storage cabinet;wherein the cabinet rail and the chain are configured to receive the atleast one storage unit so as to rotate said at least one storage unitclockwise or counterclockwise movement within the storage cabinet alongthe first and second rotation directions.
 2. The rotating mechanism ofclaim 1, wherein the storage unit is configured to be mounted at andslide along the chain at least at one extremity forming the wall of thestorage unit.
 3. The rotating mechanism of claim 1, wherein the storageunit comprises drawer rails located along at least at one extremityforming the wall of the storage unit.
 4. The rotating mechanism of claim1, wherein the storage unit includes inward depressions throughout theexternal walls, while the chain includes outward protrusions, such thatthe storage unit is engaged in between the rail and the chain with thehelp of outward protrusions of the chain and the inward depressions ofthe storage unit.
 5. The rotating mechanism of claim 1, wherein therotating mechanism is actuated manually.
 6. The rotating mechanism ofclaim 1, wherein the rotating mechanism is actuated automatically. 7.The rotating mechanism of claim 6, wherein the rotation is controlledthrough rotary actuators or linear actuators.
 8. The rotating mechanismof claim 1, further comprising flexible supporting members adapted to bemounted along the internal walls of the storage cabinet for supportingthe storage units while moving vertically upwardly and downwardly alongthe vertical axis of the cabinet.
 9. A storage cabinet comprising: atleast one storage unit, a first set of rotational gears having a firstdirection of rotation and a first central axis perpendicular to thefirst direction of rotation, the first set of rotational gears beingadapted to be mounted within the storage cabinet such that the firstdirection of rotation of the first set of rotational gears is parallelto the vertical axis of the storage cabinet; a second set of rotationalgears having a second direction of rotation and a second central axisperpendicular to the second direction of rotation, the second set ofrotational gears being adapted to be mounted within the storage cabinetsuch that the second direction of rotation of the second set ofrotational gears is parallel to the horizontal axis of the storagecabinet; a chain adapted to be operatively connected to the first andsecond set of rotational gears, the chain being adapted to be engaged bythe first and second set of rotational gears and being further adaptedto slide along the first and second rotation directions by the effect ofsaid engagement in a circular or semi-circular manner; and a railadapted to be mounted on the internal walls of the storage cabinet;wherein the cabinet rail and the chain are configured to receive the atleast one storage unit so as to rotate said at least one storage unitclockwise or counterclockwise movement within the storage cabinet alongthe first and second rotation directions.
 10. The storage cabinet ofclaim 9, wherein the storage unit wherein the storage unit is configuredto be mounted at and slide along the chain at each extremity of thestorage unit.
 11. The storage cabinet of claim 9, wherein the storageunit comprises drawer rails located along the external walls at eachextremity of the storage unit, which help the storage unit to be engagedto a chain through said drawer rails.
 12. The storage cabinet of claim9, wherein the storage unit includes inward depressions throughout theexternal walls, while the chain includes outward protrusions, such thatthe storage unit is engaged in between the rail and the chain with thehelp of outward protrusions of the chain and the inward depressions ofthe storage unit.
 13. The storage cabinet of claim 9, wherein thestorage unit is made of wood.
 14. The storage cabinet of claim 9,further comprising flexible supporting members adapted to be mountedalong the internal walls of the storage cabinet for supporting thestorage units while moving vertically upwardly and downwardly along thevertical axis of the cabinet.